100 Women Peterborough held its first meeting of the year on Tuesday at The Venue in downtown Peterborough. The gathering brought together longtime members and newcomers to support local charities through collective giving.
The group chose Camp Northern Lights as the recipient of its donation for the evening. The registered non-profit has been providing wilderness summer camp experiences to disadvantaged youth since 1972. Each summer, the camp serves approximately 250 children from Peterborough and surrounding areas, offering a transformative outdoor education experience aimed at fostering leadership and resilience.
The event also featured updates on the group’s philanthropic efforts and a discussion on sustainability. Members participated in a live poll to consider transitioning from paper ballots to an electronic voting system, which would reduce paper waste while maintaining efficiency.
Camp Northern Lights will use the funds to support critical improvements, such as the construction of new docks for safe waterfront access. The camp operates on an annual budget of $150,000, with donations covering the majority of its costs. Families are asked to contribute $40 per child, while the remainder is subsidized by community fundraising.
Also discussed at the meeting were presentations from Habitat for Humanity and Peterborough Veterinary Outreach. For more information on how to get involved with 100 Women Peterborough, visit 100womenptbo.ca.
